During another break in their shared training, Sami's keen senses once again caught the flash of a red figure darting through the shadows of the coral forest.
This time, he gave the observer no chance to disappear again.
Whoosh!
Sami's figure blurred where he stood.
An instant later, he appeared like a phantom before the coral thicket, his eyes locking onto the red fish-man who was just about to retreat back into the shadows.
"Who are you?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
"You've been spying on us for the past two days."
"What exactly are you after?"
Caught red-handed, the red fish-man was visibly startled.
Though his face still retained the youthful features of adolescence, he quickly straightened his nearly four-meter-tall body and glared back without the slightest hint of fear, despite Sami not even reaching half his height.
At that moment, Neptune's hearty, amused voice came from behind them.
"Captain Sami, don't be so tense."
"I know this kid."
The prince strode over with steady steps, his enormous shadow falling across the pair.
He glanced at the red fish-man before introducing him.
"He's one of the youngsters from Fish-Man District."
"Fisher Tiger."
"What?!"
"Fisher Tiger?!"
Sami's heart skipped a beat.
He carefully studied the tall red fish-man before him.
In the original course of history, this very man would one day perform a feat that shook the entire world—
He would infiltrate the Holy Land of Mary Geoise alone and free countless slaves.
The skin color matched.
The name matched.
There was no doubt about it.
This really was him.
"Hey, kid."
Suppressing the waves of emotion inside him, Sami looked up and asked,
"How old are you this year?"
Tiger lifted his chin proudly, the stubbornness unique to youth evident on his face.
"I'm not telling you."
"Oh?"
Sami couldn't help laughing.
"Not very old, yet you've already got quite the attitude."
Neptune chuckled and added,
"Captain Sami, don't underestimate him."
"Although he's only fifteen years old, he's already become one of the leaders of Fish-Man District."
"Your Highness!"
Tiger cried out in embarrassment.
Since both his age and identity had already been exposed by the prince, he stopped trying to hide it.
Puffing out his broad chest, he declared proudly,
"That's right!"
"I'm the boss of Fish-Man District!"
"I'm Fisher Tiger—the sea bream fish-man!"
Sami rolled his eyes.
"I don't care what street you're the boss of."
"Answer my question."
"Why have you been watching us for the past two days?"
Tiger hesitated for a moment.
But he quickly recovered his confidence and pointed straight at Sami.
"Because you're an evil human!"
"It's our responsibility to protect Prince Neptune!"
"I have to keep an eye on you in case you try anything against His Highness!"
"'Evil human?'"
Sami's face immediately darkened.
"Hahaha!"
Neptune burst into hearty laughter.
Stretching out a huge hand, he gave Tiger's shoulder a powerful slap.
"Thanks, Tiger!"
"But Captain Sami is my good friend."
"And..."
Neptune winked at Sami before saying the one sentence that made Sami's expression grow even darker.
"He's not human either."
"What?!"
"Not human?!"
Tiger's eyes widened in disbelief.
His gaze repeatedly swept over Sami from head to toe.
Sami couldn't even be bothered explaining the increasingly ridiculous misunderstanding about him being some sort of jellyfish-man.
That would only make things worse.
Instead, he folded his arms and jerked his chin toward Tiger.
"If you're that worried, then come watch openly."
"Stop hiding in the shadows all the time."
"Sneaking around like that makes me feel uncomfortable."
Tiger looked at Neptune, who was smiling openly.
Then at Sami, whose expression was full of helplessness but clearly lacked any hostility.
Finally, he stepped completely out from the coral's shadow.
"Fine."
"I'll watch."
The curiosity of youth ultimately won out.
"I want to see just what you're actually doing."
Meanwhile...
A large, extravagantly designed ship had just crossed the raging descending current, safely navigated the dangerous underwater volcanic region, and arrived near the vast trench surrounding Fish-Man Island.
The cabin was dimly lit.
Its flickering lamps illuminated a face struggling to appear calm while failing to conceal its nervousness.
It was none other than Gillian, the slave trader who had previously crossed paths with Sami and served under Spade.
Gripping a support rail fixed to the cabin wall, Gillian stared through the porthole at the endless darkness outside.
His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
"This damned place..."
"It's dark enough to swallow your soul."
"Why did the boss have to send me here of all places..."
One of his trusted subordinates immediately leaned closer, lowering his voice in flattery.
"Brother Gillian, think about it."
"Isn't it precisely because you're Lord Spade's most capable lieutenant that this mission had to be entrusted to you?"
He glanced nervously toward the terrifying darkness beyond the porthole before continuing.
"Over the past few months, several of our crews sent here to purchase merchandise on Fish-Man Island have disappeared without a trace."
"Ships and men alike."
"And the next major auction is getting closer."
"This job has become more difficult than ever."
"Lord Spade has entrusted the heaviest burden..."
"...to the person he trusts the most."
Those words struck directly at Gillian's pride.
The unease on his face gradually faded, replaced by a mixture of arrogance and self-confidence.
He released the handrail, straightened his back, and cleared his throat.
"Hmph."
"That's true."
He lifted his chin proudly.
"So what if the business has moved from the surface down to the bottom of the sea?"
"So what if we've gone from dealing in humans to merfolk?"
"If it's merchandise that I, Gillian, have set my sights on..."
"...I never fail to get it."
"If Boss Spade personally sent me, then it's because he recognizes my ability."
Turning toward the men inside the cabin, whose expressions ranged from anxious to determined, Gillian deliberately raised his voice, as though trying to bolster both their morale and his own.
"Everyone!"
"Stay sharp!"
"Harry!"
"Go over the requirements again!"
"Brother Gillian..."
A bespectacled subordinate carefully handed over a list.
"This time, our shopping list..."
"...is much more particular than in previous years."
"Lord Spade specifically emphasized that the merchandise must consist of healthy female mermaids with brightly colored scales."
"Preferably from certain specific races or with especially rare scale colors."
"And..."
"They must all be under thirty years old."
"Hmph."
"The tastes of those important people upstairs are getting pickier and pickier."
"But that's fine."
"The rarer the merchandise..."
"...the more it proves our capability."
"This time..."
"I'll show those fools on Fish-Man Island exactly what the people of Sabaody Archipelago are capable of."
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